Politeness has come a long way over the years, but some courtesies never go out of style. In order to help your child to be accepted and appreciated, here are some marks of politeness to remember.
Waiting your turn
Does this conversation remind you of anything?
- Did…
- MOM?
- you…
-… did you see…
-… did your homework ?-…my blue stockings?
Teaching a child to wait his turn, in a line and in a conversation, will save him a lot of trouble and sighs of exasperation. This is the first step towards this patience that we never abuse as adults and it is this concept that will help him understand that we raise our hand before speaking in class.
Vouvoyer
When you don't know someone, when a person is older or when a person is in a position of authority, it is always better to address them as you, unless they expressly ask to be addressed as you. So at the grocery store, on the bus, at the doctor's, on vacation: we say you! The child who has grown up without learning formal formalities finds himself using familiar terms with anyone in adulthood, which is often a source of discomfort! To be familiar with someone is a gesture of familiarity andof intimacy and, to some people, this may look like deliberate disrespect.
Magic Words
A child who says please and thank you is always nicer than those who don't. Besides, this is also true for an adult. Often parents ask children to say these magic words, but do not use them themselves. Let's not forget that politeness goes both ways, it is not because our authority is indisputable that we must forget to apply what we teach.
Put your hand
When you yawn, you have to put your hand in front of your mouth and when you cough, you have to cough into the crook of your elbow. It's surprising how many people are irritated by those who don't. It is true that the inside of a mouth is not always appetizing to see!
Welcoming the visit and saying hello
When grandpa, grandma, uncles, aunts and friends arrive home, it's not too much to ask to require the children to leave the television, books or computer to welcome the visit. Similarly, it is more polite to go to the door when they leave, just to greet them warmly. Moreover, speaking of the door, it would be good to teach them also to hold the door open for the person following them, until they take it in turn, even if they also have to know how to let go if we don't want to serve as doorman.
Adjust the tone
You don't talk as loud when you playsoccer, when you enter a house and when you enter a house where someone is sleeping. You have to know how to whisper in certain circumstances such as in the library or when someone is giving a show. The tone used is also essential! Aggression, arrogance, whining, shouting have no place in a civilized and pleasant conversation.
Answer the phone correctly
“Yeah, who is it? Hold on…" It's not on the day when you're expecting an important call that you have to teach a child how to be polite on the phone. It's not that hard to say "Yes, hello!" and "Just a moment, please," but he'll still have to be taught that at some point, and the sooner the better. We also take this opportunity to remember how unpleasant it is to talk on the phone when the sound of the TV is loud or when the children are arguing around. A little calm, the time of an important call, that can also be learned!
Apologize
Hanging someone's shoulder as you pass by, dropping something when someone reaches out to take it, slamming a door… Anything you do that might disturb others or pass for meanness deserves an excuse. You have to explain to him that if he doesn't apologize, he will look like he did it on purpose.
At the table
Eating with your mouth open, undermining while drinking or eating your soup, and talking with your mouth full are all highly irritating behaviors. You don't have to teach your kids all the rules of table etiquette ifyou don't have to, but asking kids to take small bites and swallow before speaking is the least you can do. And when you have a guest, even a boyfriend from the street and from school, you have to offer him food or drink because if this guest is himself polite, he won't say he's hungry or thirst.
Look at people when you talk to them
When someone talks to us, the least we can do is deign to look at the person who takes the time to talk to us. Look at the ground while chewing your gum, it's no! And smiling at the one who talks to us is ALWAYS a winner!
